Cartridges having interiorly positioned zones of reduced thickness

• US 5,656,311 A
• Filed: 04/25/1995
• Issued: 08/12/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Original Assignee: Nestec SA (Nestle SA)
• Inventors: Fond, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): WEINSTEIN, STEVEN L
• Application Number:
  US08/428,512
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 426/77-79, 426/84, 426/112, 426/433, 99/295
• US Class Current: 426/84
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 29/022 packaging infusion material into capsules
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8052 Details of the outlet
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 85/8061 Filters

Abstract

A cartridge which contains a substance for preparation of a beverage has a cover membrane member which covers an opening of a container body for containing the substance within the container interior. The body has a base and a sidewall which extends from the base to define a container interior, and the sidewall defines the opening at a position opposing the base. The membrane is affixed to a rim which extends from the sidewall in a direction away from the sidewall. An interior container surface of either the base or the cover membrane member contains a plurality of perforations which define openings which provide localized absence of a plurality of portions in the base or cover membrane member to provide a plurality of localized portions of reduced thickness so that when a fluid pressure for extraction of the substance for preparation of a beverage is applied, the localized portions of reduced thickness tear and open for beverage passage.

Claims

1. A cartridge container containing a substance for preparation of a beverage comprising:

a body comprising a base, a sidewall and a rim, wherein the sidewall extends from the base to define a container interior, to define a container opening which opposes the base and to define a body shape selected from the group consisting of a frustum and a hemisphere and wherein the sidewall extends from the base to the rim and the rim extends from the sidewall in a direction away from the sidewall;

a cover membrane member affixed to the rim to cover the opening;

a substance for preparation of a beverage contained within the container interior by the body and cover membrane member; and

wherein the base defines both a container base outer solid surface and a container base interior surface and wherein the container base contains a plurality of perforations which define openings in the base which extend for a distance from the container base interior surface through the base towards the container base outer solid surface to provide localized absence of a plurality of portions of the base so that the base has a plurality of zones which comprise a plurality of localized portions of reduced thickness and so that when a fluid pressure for extraction of the substance for preparation of a beverage is applied, the localized portions of reduced thickness tear and open for beverage passage.

3. A cartridge container according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the body has a shape of a frustum.

4. A cartridge container according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the cartridge container is substantially impermeable to moisture and oxygen.

5. A cartridge container according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the plurality of zones of the localized portions of reduced-thickness are in a form of dashes and are arranged in a plurality of straight lines.

6. A cartridge container according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the plurality of zones of the localized portions of reduced-thickness are arranged in a plurality of concentric arcs.

7. A cartridge container according to claim 1 wherein the base comprises layers of material and wherein a first layer forms the container base outer solid surface, a second layer forms the container base interior surface and the perforations extend through the second layer to provide openings therethrough.

8. A cartridge-container according to claim 7 wherein the second layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethyl-eneterephthalate.

9. A cartridge container according to claim 1 further comprising a layer of filter paper positioned adjacent the container base interior surface.

2. A cartridge container containing a substance for preparation of a beverage comprising:

a body comprising a base, a sidewall and a rim, wherein the sidewall extends from the base to define a container interior, to define a container opening which opposes the base and to define a body shape selected from the group consisting of a frustum and a hemisphere and wherein the sidewall extends from the base to the rim and the rim extends from the sidewall in a direction away from the sidewall;

a substance for preparation of a beverage contained within the container interior; and

a cover membrane member affixed to the rim to cover the opening and to contain the substance in the container interior and wherein the cover member defines both a container cover member outer solid surface and a container cover member interior surface and wherein the container cover member contains a plurality of perforations which define openings in the container cover member which extend for a distance from the container cover member interior surface through the container cover member towards the container cover member outer solid surface to provide localized absence of a plurality of portions of the cover membrane member so that the cover membrane member has a plurality of zones which comprise a plurality of localized portions of reduced thickness and so that when a fluid pressure for extraction of the substance for preparation of a beverage is applied, the localized portions of reduced thickness tear and open for beverage passage.

10. A cartridge container according to claim 2 wherein the container cover member comprises layers of material and wherein a first layer forms the container cover member outer solid surface, a second layer forms the container cover member interior surface and the perforations extend through the second layer to provide openings therethrough.

11. A cartridge container according to claim 10 wherein the second layer comprises a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene and polyethyl-eneterephthalate.

12. A cartridge container according to claim 2 further comprising a layer of filter paper positioned adjacent the container cover member interior surface.

13. A cartridge container containing a substance for preparation of a beverage comprising:

a body comprising a base member, a side-wall and a rim, wherein the sidewall extends from the base member to define a container interior, to define a container opening which opposes the base and to define a body shape selected from the group consisting of a frustum and a hemisphere and wherein the sidewall extends from the base to the rim and the rim extends from the sidewall in a direction away from the sidewall;

a cover member affixed to the rim to cover the opening;

a substance for preparation of a beverage contained within the container interior by the body and cover membrane; and

wherein one of the base member or the cover member defines one container outer surface and one container interior surface and wherein the one member contains a plurality of perforations which define opposing openings in each of the outer and interior surfaces and wherein the openings extend for a distance from each surface through the one member towards a member solid portion positioned between the outer and interior surfaces to provide localized absence of a plurality of portions of the one member and an intermediately positioned member solid portion so that the one member has a plurality of zones which comprise a plurality of localized portions of reduced thickness and so that when a fluid pressure for extraction of the substance for preparation of a beverage is applied, the localized portions of reduced thickness tear and open for beverage passage.

14. A cartridge according to claim 13 wherein the one member comprises layers of material and wherein a first layer forms the outer surface, a second layer forms the interior surface and the perforations extend through the first and second layers to provide openings therethrough and a third layer forms the intermediately positioned solid portion.

15. A cartridge according to claim 13 or 14 wherein the one member is the cover member.